HIV Education, One Haircut at a Time

When many of us visit the hairdresser, we go into the salon not just with a head full of hair, but also with a mind full of intimate life details that we are ready to unload.

Hairdressers Against AIDS is utilizing this unique relationship hairdressers have with their clients to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS through education and interaction. Implemented by the L’Oréal Corporate Foundation and UNESCO, Hairdressers Against AIDS has incorporated AIDS prevention education as a part of their hairdressers’ professional training courses. This training encourages hairdressers to be activists in their local communities by educating their clients about HIV/AIDS.

Adriana Serrano, a Star Walker and co-leader of the San Francisco team Hairdressers Against AIDS, started her AIDS Walk experience in 2010 when L’Oreal first launched their program in the United States. Her journey began in New York, but quickly spread to San Francisco after a successful Walk and lots of positive media attention.

Serrano says her favorite fundraising technique is Facebook. Her posts often include an educational fact about HIV/AIDS as well as a link to her fundraising page. Her favorite part about the Walk?

“As cliché as it sounds, the experience going through the park and completing the whole journey makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something bigger than myself.”